Louise James has spoken of how she has been touched by the kindness of strangers since losing five members of her family in the Buncrana pier tragedy.

The Co Derry woman has revealed how she still receives messages of support on a daily basis, and has been particularly touched by the young children who have sent their pocket money for baby Rioghnach.

Speaking to the Irish News, Louise said: "I'm still receiving messages on a daily basis. It's nice because I have read every single one and it makes you feel sometimes like you're not the only one greiving.

"Even though I've had the biggest loss, you sort of feel that you are not on your own."

Ms James lost her partner Sean McGrotty, 46, sons, Mark, 12 and Evan, eight, sister Jodie-Lee Tracey, 14, and her mother, Ruth Daniels, 57, in the tragedy at Lough Swilly in March this year.

Baby Rioghnach-Ann was saved from the tragedy when Mr McGrotty was able to pass her to rescuer Davitt Walsh who brought her to shore, after he jumped into the waters to help save the family.

Ms James said she's had messages of support from across the world, including USA and Austrailia, with some young children even offering money to help baby Rioghnach-Ann.

Conveying her thanks to everyone who stopped to helped at the scene of the tragedy, and those who supported her, she said: "I want to say a big thanks to everyone, starting with the people who were there that night, all the emergency services, the RNLI, all the staff at Letterkenny Hospital, Davitt and [his girlfriend] Stephanie [Knox].

Mark, 11 and eight-year-old Evan McGrotty with baby Rioghnach

"I want to thank Connie and Theresa [McIntyre] because Connie and Theresa helped Davitt and Stephanie. They were there that night but have not really come to into the picture. I want to thank Kay and Francis Crawford.

"I want to thank Fr Paddy O'Kane. He has been a tower of strength to me. He really has. He's been at the door, he's been atthe house, he has been at the other end of the phone."